Drape-supporting crane



Nov. 28, 1950 E. G. MOELLER DRAPE-SUPPORTING CRANE Filed Nov. 25, 1947 INVENTOR. 56: J/UZ'ZLEA Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE DRAPE-SUl O ING CRA Edward G. Moeller, Davenport, Iowa Application November 25, 1947,. Serial No. 781,964

(Cl. ISM-335')" 3 Gl'a m I My present invention relates to that class of supporting means for drapes which is typified by Patent No. 1,907,151, to Dover, issued May 2, 1933. Among the objects of this invention are the provision of a crane to which drapes can be secured directly instead of by the use of separate hooks; the provision of a crane of the type indicated in which drapes supported on the crane will conceal substantially all of the crane; the provision of a crane which is so constructed that it will be rigidly braced and will not be subject to distortion by the weight of the drapes; the provision of a generally improved crane of the type indicated; and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, while I have shown therein what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment of thi invention, I desire the same to be understood as illustrative only and not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a drape attached to a crane constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of one of my new cranes;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a crane in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking at the left hand end of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 5 with the swinging arm of the crane at a right angle to the position shown in that figure; and

Fig, '7 represents a fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 'I-1, Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1 there is shown at l a part of a window casing and at 2 a drape supported upon a crane 3 made in accordance with my invention. The crane 3 comprises a fixed bracket 4 and a swinging arm 5, the former of which is provided with holes 6 by means of which screws or other securing means may hold the bracket to the edge of the window casing. As shown in Fig. 5, a cross brace I connects the two arms of the bracket 4 and is secured thereto by means of rivets, spot welding, or other suitable means, as indicated at 8.

At'its' free end, the bracket 4 has a pair of loops 9 which receive a hinge pin H] to pivotally secure the swinging arm 5 to the bracket. The arm 5 has a loop H through which the hinge pin Ill passes, connecting the loops 9 and l I so that the swinging arm 5 may be turned to the position shown in Fig. 5, or that shown in Fig. 6, or any intermediate position.

An intermediate portion of the brace 1 serves as a bridge [2 over the hinge 9, I0, I I, and the brace I then continues on, as shown at [3a, to end at 13. This projecting part of the brace serves as a stop to limit the swinging motion of the arm in one direction. As shown at M, the bottom edge portion of the arm 5 is turned up on the back side of the arm to serve as stiffening means therefor. The bottom part of the arm 13a, which is the extension of the bridge member 12, is cut away, as shown at l5, so that it will not interfere with the turned up flange [4. This is clear from Figs. 2 and 3.

Cut from the upper edge of the crane are hooks is which are pointed and adapted to enter the fabric of the drapes at the upper edge thereof so that its upper edge will project slightly above the upper edge of the crane in order that the latter will be largely hidden by the drape.

It will be seen from the foregoing that this crane is light in weight but sufficiently braced that it will not be subject to serious distortion on account of the weight of the drapes hanging therefrom. It is also so constructed that the drape is carried entirely around the end of the crane and into substantial contact with the adjacent wall, which is a desirable arrangement.

It is of course understood that the specific description of structure set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in this specification and as defined in the appended claims.

Havin now described my invention, I claim:

1. A crane for drapes comprising a bracket bent through an arc of substantially ninety degrees and having two arms formed by the bend, a brace extending across the bend of the bracket and connected to the two arms thereof, and a swinging arm pivotally connected to the bracket, said bracket and swinging arm having fabric-engaging points formed integrally with the material of the crane and spaced along the upper edge portion thereof to position the upper edge of a drape supported by said crane approximately even with the top of the crane.

2. A crane of the type indicated comprising a bracket and aswingin arm hingedly connected thereto, said bracket comprising an arcuate part and a brace spanning the arc of the arcuate part, the end portions of the brace being secured to spaced portions of the arcuate part, the part of the brace adjacent the hinge between the bracket and arm being bent into a bridge spanning the hinge and extending beyond the hinge to serve as a stop to limit the swinging of the arm in one direction.

3. A crane for the purpose stated comprising a swinging arm and a bracket, each provided along its upper edge with spaced drape-impaling prongs, the bracket being formed from flat sheet material and having its two end portions substantially straight and including between them an angle of approximately ninety degrees (90), the end portions being connected by an arcuate portion, the swinging arm and the bracket being hingedly connected, and a brace member spanning the arcuate space between the end portions E of the bracket, one end of the brace member being secured to the bracket adjacent one end thereof, and a portion of the brace remote from the said end of the brace being secured to the second end portion of the bracket, a portion of the brace member forming a bridge over the hinge connecting the bracket and the swinging arm and an extension thereof forming a stop to limit the swinging of the arm in one direction.

EDWARD G. MOELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi? this patent:

15 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 863,547 Mansfield Aug. 13, 1907 1,907,151 Dover May 2, 1933 20 2,334,809 Davis, Jr. Nov. 23, 1943 

